Zero Trust is a security concept integrates multiple key principles to eliminate all trust by default from security approaches.
The following principles empower organizations to take control over access and address emerging threats effectively:
Zero Trust is not a brand-new approach to cybersecurity. However, it has only recently been accepted near-universally as the best approach to protecting an organization’s digital assets and infrastructure. More importantly, until recently, cloud computing was insufficiently mature to support the technology needed to provide solutions that truly adhere to Zero Trust principles.
In today’s day and age, a Zero Trust security approach has become a necessity. Gone are the days where perimeter security tools like firewalls are enough to keep an organization protected.
Most organizations are moving toward a hybrid cloud infrastructure, with resources and data stored both on-premises and in the cloud. In addition, the recent uptick in remote and hybrid employment means that there are many more access points to a network than ever before, with remote workers logging in from their own unmanaged home computers and mobile devices. Such a highly distributed network is far harder to protect, as it’s difficult to ensure that every connection is secure, and every device remains uncompromised. In these cases, relying on protecting the network perimeter is insufficient.
In addition, organizations that haven’t yet implemented a comprehensive Zero Trust solution usually rely on a combination of different tools to provide network protection, increasing the workload of the security team, while still leaving gaps that leave the network vulnerable to data branches and cyberattacks.
The Zero Trust framework was developed in 2010 by John Kindervag, a principal analyst at Forrester Research. In the Zero Trust model, every connection to the network, no matter where it comes from, must be considered ‘guilty until proven innocent’. Zero Trust principles are implemented to monitor, authorize, and verify all network connections to resources through network traffic inspection and secure access control at the resource level.
When a user wants to connect to a particular resource in a network, they must have specific permissions to access that resource, and their identity must be verified every time they connect to the resource, be it software, an application, or data. A Zero Trust network model is underpinned by strict Zero Trust security policies that authenticate based on as much information as possible, across all networks, devices, users, and connections.
Many different elements may be included in a comprehensive Zero Trust framework. Some typical components include:
There are many benefits of implementing a Zero Trust model to protect your network:
Here are the suggested steps you need to take to implement the Zero Trust model in your organization:
Today, virtually any organization using network technology and storing digital information might explore adopting a Zero Trust framework. Below are some of the most frequently encountered scenarios where Zero Trust can be beneficial:
Traditional security systems like VPNs might need to scale up their capabilities to accommodate an influx of new users, which can often be slow and tedious. Zero-trust architectures simplify and speed up the onboarding of new employees by offering easy-to-implement, scalable solutions.
In a Zero-trust environment, every access request is scrutinized, irrespective of its origin or endpoint. This scrutiny enables better control over unauthorized usage of cloud services by blocking or regulating access to unapproved applications.
Conventional VPNs can sometimes create performance lags that hinder remote work efficiency. Zero Trust eliminates this issue by delivering secure, seamless access control for remote connections, allowing employees to work productively from anywhere.
For third-party vendors, freelancers, or contractors not on an organization’s internal network, Zero Trust offers a streamlined process to provide them with limited, need-to-know access rights. Operating in a Zero Trust environment ensures they can perform their tasks without compromising security.
Traditional VPN solutions, while functional, have limitations that make them less suitable for countering modern security threats. Zero Trust architecture serves as either an effective alternative or a supplemental layer that improves overall network security.
A multinational IT consultancy firm faced multiple challenges as it transitioned to a remote workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company was particularly concerned about allowing remote access to its HR applications without risking the transmission of malware from unmanaged devices to its enterprise network. Additional worries included shielding the app code and APIs from potentially malicious insiders and allowing remote users to upload files securely.
Ericom provided a solution with its Web Application Isolation, a unique approach that utilizes remote browser isolation (RBI) in an reverse manner. The technology routes all content from a user’s device through an isolated container in the Ericom Global Cloud, sending only a secure data stream to the user’s local browser.
This process ensures that any malware on user devices can’t interact with the HR apps. Furthermore, the app code remains hidden, minimizing potential vulnerabilities. Ericom’s Content Disarm and Reconstruct (CDR) technology also sanitizes any documents uploaded to the HR apps, eliminating the risk of malware infiltration.
The outcome was a win-win situation: Employees and contractors could easily access HR applications while the company’s network remained secure. Ericom’s Web Application Isolation offered robust protection against malware, ransomware, and potential internal threats without compromising the user experience. Read the full case study here.
Ericom’s Zero Trust Network Access offers a secure and flexible alternative to traditional VPNs for remote work environments. ZTNA excels in scalability and manageability, allowing organizations to connect users to any application or resource, whether it is in the cloud or on-premise.
Our user-friendly management console lets you set granular access policies. It provides continuous, fine-grained visibility into user behavior and network traffic via dashboards. This aids in boosting productivity, saving time on manual configurations, and enhancing security by minimizing the risks of lateral movement and ransomware attacks.
For organizations dealing with the challenge of unmanaged devices and BYODs, especially from third-party contractors, we also offer Web Application Isolation. Web Application Isolation enables strict data-sharing controls and loss prevention measures, securing your corporate applications from potential threats.
If you’re grappling with the complexities and security limitations of VPNs or if you’re looking for robust, scalable solutions that can adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of remote work, it’s time to consider Ericom’s Zero Trust Network Access.
Interested in taking steps toward a more secure future? Contact us today for more information.
